Patterns Identification of Finger Outer Knuckles by Utilizing Local Directional Number

Finger Outer Knuckle (FOK) is a distinctive biometric that has grown in popularity recently. This results from its inborn qualities such as stability, protection, and specific anatomical patterns. Applications for the identification of FOK patterns include forensic investigations, access control systems, and personal identity. In this study, we suggest a method for identifying FOK patterns using Local Directional Number (LDN) codes produced from gradient-based compass masks. For the FOK pattern matching, the suggested method uses two asymmetric masks—Kirsch and Gaussian derivative—to compute the edge response and extract LDN codes. To calculate edge response on the pattern, an asymmetric compass mask made from the Gaussian derivative mask is created by rotating the Kirsch mask by 45 degrees to provide edge response in eight distinct directions. The edge response of each mask and the combination of dominating vector numbers are examined during the LDN code-generating process. A distance metric can be used to compare the LDN code\u27s condensed representation of the FOK pattern to the original for matching purposes. On the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Finger Knuckle (IITDFK) database, the efficiency of the suggested procedure is assessed. The data show that the suggested strategy is effective, with an Equal Error Rate (EER) of 10.78%. This value performs better than other EER values when compared to different approaches

WojoodNER 2023: The First Arabic Named Entity Recognition Shared Task

We present WojoodNER-2023, the first Arabic Named Entity Recognition (NER) Shared Task. The primary focus of WojoodNER-2023 is on Arabic NER, offering novel NER datasets (i.e., Wojood) and the definition of subtasks designed to facilitate meaningful comparisons between different NER approaches. WojoodNER-2023 encompassed two Subtasks: FlatNER and NestedNER. A total of 45 unique teams registered for this shared task, with 11 of them actively participating in the test phase. Specifically, 11 teams participated in FlatNER, while $8$ teams tackled NestedNER. The winning teams achieved F1 scores of 91.96 and 93.73 in FlatNER and NestedNER, respectively

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Early Jurassic&ndash;Early Cretaceous Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy and Geochemistry, Northeastern Iraqi Kurdistan: Implications for Paleoclimate and Paleoecological Conditions

Early Jurassic- to Early Cretaceous-age calcareous nannofossils from the Sarki, Sehkanyian, Sargelu, Naokelekan, Barsarin and Chia Gara formations are investigated for the first time from the Warte area, northeastern Iraqi Kurdistan. A range of isotopic and inorganic geochemical analyses are carried out in order to reconstruct the paleoecological and paleoclimatic conditions during which the Sarki, Sehkanyian, Sargelu, Naokelekan, Barsarin and Chia Gara formations were deposited. The age of the Sargelu Formation was determined as Bajocian&ndash;Callovian based on the first occurrence of Cyclagelosphaera margerelii, Watznaueria britannica, W. fossacincta, W. manivitiae, Watznaueria barnesiae and Watznaueria ovata. Geochemical proxies (Sr, Ca, Al, Rb/Sr, Sr/Cu and Sr/Ba) for paleoclimate and paleoecological conditions, along with oxygen isotopes (&delta;18O) data, suggest that warm and arid climatic conditions were predominant during the Early Jurassic&ndash;Early Cretaceous period

Low dose multidetector computed tomography in localizing the transition zone of Hirschsprung’s Disease: A novel study

Objectives: The objectives of this study were the evaluation of low dose multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in localizing the site of the transition zone (TZ) of Hirschsprung’s Disease (HD) for preoperative planning. Patients and methods: Twenty-two infants were recruited from pediatric and surgical clinics in Assiut University Hospital and Sohag University Hospital. The recruited patients were sedated before examination. Examinations were done using 64-rows MDCT. Each MDCT examination was reviewed to determine the location and length of the TZ and compared with operative and pathological results. Results were analyzed by chi square test and interobserver agreement using Kappa test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: According to operative and pathological data, the site of the TZ: 17 (77.27%) were of short-segment disease (rectosigmoid HD), 2 (9%) were of long segment (above sigmoid colon), and 3 (13.63%) were of ultrashort segment. A correct diagnosis of TZ by MDCT was made in 19 out of 22 with 82.4% sensitivity and 80% specificity. The site of TZ was concordant in 17. Results yielded a moderate strength of inter-observer agreement in localizing the site of TZ (k = 0.546) and ( P= 0.009). Conclusion: Low-dose MDCT has a good role in localizing the site of TZ of HD in infants

THE REPELLENT EFFECT OF AQUOUS, ALCOHOLIC AND OIL OF SEED EXTRACTS OF THE HARMAL PLANT PEGANUM HARMALA ON ADULT MOSQUITO CULEX PIPIENS MOLESTUS ( FORSKAL ) (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

The research is done to investigate the repellent effect of aquous, alcoholic and oil of seed extracts of the plant Peganum harmala for the percentages (2, 4, 10, 15, 20)% on adult mosquito by using pigeons as food source. Also the research investigates the repellent effect of oil extract on the hands of volunteers in comparison with commercial (of Insect repellent) . Results showed that the oil extract have higher repellent effects than those of alcoholic and aquous extracts, the repellence percentage were (83.33, 76.67, 56.76)% respectively; result also showed that alkaloids of P. harmala had repellent effects on mosquitoe adults. The percentage of repellence on adults due to alkaloid was 68% at 2% concentration. It's also found that when the hands of the volunteers treated with the oil extract gave 80% protection during 60 sec. while commercial repellent gave 100% protection during the same period

PET/CT in initial staging and therapy response assessment of lymphoma

Objective: To detect accuracy of PET/CT in the initial staging, response during the course and end of treatment in lymphoma patients compared to contrast CT. Materials and methods: We studied 50 patients divided into 3 groups with pathologically proven lymphoma with a mean age = 27. All patients performed CT and PET/CT for initial staging, during the course of chemotherapy and at the end of treatment. Results: PET/CT and CECT were agreeable in 75% of cases. 61% during treatment and41% agreement at the end of treatment. Conclusion: PET/CT proved higher sensitivity and specificity over CECT. The major strength of PET/CT over CECT was its higher ability for detection of extra-nodal sites of lymphoma and excluding active disease in residual nodal mass lesions on follow-up

Solid bitumen in shales from the Middle to Upper Jurassic Sargelu and Naokelekan Formations of northernmost Iraq: implication for reservoir characterization

Petrographic, organic, and inorganic geochemical analysis of the solid bitumen and host shales from the Middle and Late Jurassic-age Sargelu and Naokelekan Formations of the Banik section, northernmost Iraq, was undertaken. The aim was to understand their derivation and preservation, as well as examine the carbon and oxygen isotopes, and paleoredox proxies under which the solid bitumen and host sediments were deposited. Petrographic analysis of both formations revealed the presence of solid bitumen high reflectance (first phase) and solid bitumen low reflectance (second phase). The equivalent vitrinite reflectance indicates that the solid bitumen of the two formations probably accumulated within the shale reservoirs following oil migration from source rocks located within the same formations. Mineralogical study (XRD and SEM - EDX) revealed that the shales hosting the solid bitumen also contain clay minerals (illite, rectorite, chlorite, montmorillonite, and kaolinite) as well as carbonate minerals, quartz, alkali feldspar, and pyrite. Carbon and oxygen isotope data along with paleoredox indicators suggest that both the solid bitumen sources and host shales in both formations formed within a shallow-marine setting, most probably under anoxic conditions where water circulation was restricted.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL. This study is supported by the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) grants (AGYA_2020_AP_01).Peer reviewe

Early Jurassic–Early Cretaceous Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy and Geochemistry, Northeastern Iraqi Kurdistan: Implications for Paleoclimate and Paleoecological Conditions

Early Jurassic- to Early Cretaceous-age calcareous nannofossils from the Sarki, Sehkanyian, Sargelu, Naokelekan, Barsarin and Chia Gara formations are investigated for the first time from the Warte area, northeastern Iraqi Kurdistan. A range of isotopic and inorganic geochemical analyses are carried out in order to reconstruct the paleoecological and paleoclimatic conditions during which the Sarki, Sehkanyian, Sargelu, Naokelekan, Barsarin and Chia Gara formations were deposited. The age of the Sargelu Formation was determined as Bajocian–Callovian based on the first occurrence of Cyclagelosphaera margerelii, Watznaueria britannica, W. fossacincta, W. manivitiae, Watznaueria barnesiae and Watznaueria ovata. Geochemical proxies (Sr, Ca, Al, Rb/Sr, Sr/Cu and Sr/Ba) for paleoclimate and paleoecological conditions, along with oxygen isotopes (δ18O) data, suggest that warm and arid climatic conditions were predominant during the Early Jurassic–Early Cretaceous period